Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 82 minute and 1 x 76 minute dives in water depths from 13 m to 16 m. 12 m viz, 21 C water temp and no surge.
From the forecasts, Saturday seemed the most promising for good diving conditions. The chosen site was already taken by a boatload of spearos (everyone being on the water with such calm conditions) so we backtracked to Terry’s Delight. The pick landed on the flat terrain to the east of our normal spot so we took the opportunity to explore that a little before heading west and up onto the plateaus and crevasses we know so well. Finds of note include Oxynoe viridis in the Caulerpa and Verconia decussata. In situ the latter is usually confused with sister species Verconia simplex until the body shape and rhinophore colouration are examined closely. We surfaced after the second dive in very choppy seas with wind gusts over 20 knots the sea breeze having come in early, with a vengeance. It pushed us home.
Number of each species sighted: 1st dive/2nd dive
* Species with highest specimen count
Aegires gardineri -/1
Ardeadoris rubroannulata 2/-
* Ardeadoris sp. 2 -/12
Bornella anguilla -/4
Chelidonura inornata -/1
Chromodoris kuiteri 1/-
Chromodoris striatella 3/1
Dermatobranchus oculus 2/-
Dermatobranchus sp. 7 2/-
Dermatobranchus sp. 8 1/-
Doriprismatica atromarginata 5/6
Glossodoris vespa -/1
Gonibranchus daphne -/1
Goniobranchus splendidus 1/1
Goniodoridella savignyi 1/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 1/4
Hypselodoris obscura -/7
Hypselodoris sagamiensis 2/-
Jorunna sp. 3 -/1
Oxynoe viridis -/1
Phyllidia ocellata 1/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 2/3
Pleurolidia juliae -/2
Sagaminopteron ornatum -/3
Thuridilla splendens 3/3
Tornatina sp. 1 1/-
Tritoniopsis elegans 2/1
Verconia decussata 2/-
Ready to cast off
Mount Coolum to the west southwest
The flat terrain to the east of the normal site
Rich with a mixture of soft and hard corals,
sponges and hydroids
Tornatina sp. 1 - a shell
Phyllidia ocellata
Doriprismatica atromarginata
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Goniobranchus splendidus
Tritoniopsis elegans
Ardeadoris rubroannulata - a pair
Thuridilla splendens
Chromodoris kuiteri
Sagaminopteron ornatum
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Chelidonura inornata
Aegires gardineri
Oxynoe viridis
The typical broken terrain at Terry's Delight
Goniodoridella savignyi
Hypselodoris sagamiensis
Verconia decussata
Hypselodoris obscura
Gonibranchus daphne
Bornella anguilla - head profile
Bornella anguilla - head on
Ardeadoris sp. 2 - a slime of nine
Jorunna sp. 3
